Over-55s Fear Dementia More than Cancer 

By Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail  

September 22, 2008

Wales 

The results of a poll by the Alzheimer’s Society last week revealed that dementia tops the list of conditions that people over 55 in Wales fear most in later life, beating the likes of heart disease, stroke and cancer.

It is estimated that 37,000 people in Wales have a form of dementia – more than half have Alzheimer’s disease. This is set to rise by 35% in the next 20 years and the number of people in the UK with dementia will soar to 1.7 million by 2051.

Sadly, one in three people over the age of 65 will die with a form of dementia.

Experts believe that dementia is currently where cancer was in the 1950s, but despite the lack of political attention given to the condition and the ongoing fight for increased resources, there is growing evidence that there are a number of lifestyle changes everyone can make to help protect against dementia.

As with so many other conditions, diet and exercise are key, not least because the risk of developing the second most common cause of dementia – vascular dementia – is related to other conditions such as high blood pressure, heart problems, high cholesterol and diabetes.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society while there are no guarantees, adopting some of the following can help to keep the brain healthy and memory sharp as you age.

Ian Thomas, director for the Alzheimer’s Society in Wales, said: “Promoting healthy living is vital in the fight against dementia.”

SALT

Salt can increase blood pressure and this increases the risk of developing dementia.

Cutting down on salt can be difficult since 75% of the salt we eat is already in the food we buy. Try not to add more at the table and try to buy low-salt versions of pre-prepared foods like soup and sauces.

That means looking at the labels – less than 0.3g salt per 100g is low salt, more than 1.5g per 100g is high salt.

DIET

Enjoy your food, and eat a wide variety of different foods to make sure you get a full range of vitamins and minerals.

Eat lots of fruit and vegetables, and limit the amount of high-fat, sugary and salty foods you eat.

EXERCISE

Try to be active for 30 minutes at least five times a week. You don’t have to join a gym or take strenuous exercise – walking, dancing, gardening and housework will all keep you fit.

HEART HEALTH

Talk to your GP about how to keep blood pressure and cholesterol levels within healthy limits.

There are treatments, which, especially when combined with a healthy diet and exercise, can keep your blood pressure and cholesterol within normal limits.

WEIGHT

Increased weight can lead to a risk of diabetes, heart disease and other health problems, which in turn can increase the risk of dementia.

You should aim for a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9 for optimal health.

BRAIN

Research about the effect of exercising and challenging the brain, by learning new skills or doing puzzles, including crosswords and sudoku, is not clear cut. Some studies have suggested that tough brain training and memory tasks can have a beneficial effect.

The Alzheimer’s Society believes that more research is needed to understand whether these activities can reduce the risk of dementia, but it advises people to pursue their interests, which can in turn reduce feelings of loneliness, depression and low self worth.

A series of memory walks will be held across Wales in the next month to raise awareness of dementia and funds for local branches. The Cardiff, Newport and Monmouth branches of the Alzheimer’s Society will hold a joint walk around Roath Park Lake on October 5. 

Copyright © Global Action on Aging
Terms of Use  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us